Lincoln County a nearby destination with recreation, history and scenery

The historic hub of Lincoln County, the old mining town of Pioche functions as county seat, its honor for nearly 140 years. The largest community in the county, Pioche lies on a short loop just off U.S. 93 about 175 miles from Las Vegas. Born in the 1860s, Pioche outlived many contemporary mining towns, surviving fires, floods and the vicissitudes of the mining industry.

Designated an official scenic route, U.S. 93 reveals areas of unexpected beauty on the way to Pioche. It takes visitors through the verdant Pahranagat Valley with its lakes and ranches around Alamo and past remnants of Hiko, the original county seat. Beyond the turnoff to Hiko, U.S. 93 cuts across wide sage-covered valleys, passing the gravel road to Delamar ghost town, an enticing side trip if time allows.

The highway climbs over wooded summits before dropping down into Meadow Valley to reach Caliente, a picturesque railroad town with a fine mission-style depot 25 miles south of Pioche. Beautiful Kershaw Ryan State Park lies just four miles south of Caliente, a delightful day use area in an oasis enclosed by a box canyon. Three miles north of Caliente, watch for the road to Beaver Dam State Park, a favorite with stream fishermen and campers located in a remote wooded area about 30 miles from the highway near the Utah-Nevada border.

About 14 miles north of Caliente, look for the turnoff to Panaca, a farming community with 19th-century charm. Mormon colonists ranching and farming in the area were among the earliest to learn of the deposits of “panacker,” silver ore deposits that led to the mining boom at Pioche. Mormon-raised meat, poultry, fruit and produce fed the rowdy crowds that flocked to the mines and mills of Pioche and nearby camps, while ice cut in winter from flooded fields chilled the food and iced the drinks in that wicked little town.

On the opposite side of the highway, watch for the turnoff to Cathedral Gorge State Park, set aside to preserve unusual eroded formations in a bed of ancient Bentonite clay. Popular today with picnickers, campers and hikers, Cathedral Gorge drew pioneers for community and family outings from the days settlers first arrived. Stop by the interagency resource center at the junction for maps and brochures about area attractions and trails.

An extensive OHV trail system links 260 miles of old mine and ranch roads running through much of Lincoln County. The Silver State OHV Trail is the first in the nation designed by Congress. Locals worked with state and federal authorities to create a back country off-roading attraction that also appeals to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Access roads from Caliente, Panaca and Pioche lead to several trailheads. The OHV trail system reaches historic and scenic sites highway travelers through Lincoln County will never see.

Cathedral Gorge was just a nice 10-mile buggy ride away for early Pioche residents. The mining town perches at 6,000 feet elevation on the steep slopes of hills that yielded millions in silver, a location only a mining town would occupy. Pioche preserves much of its past. Along those steep streets, look for vintage residences, venerable commercial buildings and a fine old courthouse infamous for its inflated construction cost. Be sure to take a guided tour of the “Million Dollar Courthouse” and the Lincoln County Museum just blocks away.

Two more state parks lie east of the Pioche along Highway 322 within a half-hour’s drive. Dams on creeks feeding into Meadow Valley created large reservoirs central to recreation in both Echo Canyon State Park and Spring Valley State Park.

Both offer boating and fishing. Picnic areas and campsites serve park visitors on a first-come basis. Hiking trails explore nearby back country.

Margo Bartlett Pesek’s column appears on Sundays.